#BOOKS: TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS 2025 PRESENT STAR-STUDDED LINEUP

The 46th Annual Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) festival features more than 100 events, including author talks, panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, book signings, and special performances. Taking place October 29 – November 2, 2025 at the historic Victoria University at the University of Toronto, the Festival debuts its new 5-day format. Interview and media opportunities are now available with attending authors, and TIFA leadership.

FEATURED GUESTS & HIGHLIGHTS

Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) & Rebecca Solnit, in conversation with Nahlah Ayad (CBC) and introduced by Margaret Atwood (October 28 at Koerner Hall)

Kiran Desai (Booker Prize winner) – Only Canadian appearance

Richard Armitage – TV star of The Hobbit and Harlan Coben adaptations on his new novel, The Cut

Chris Pavone (The Doorman) – In conversation with Nita Prose (Oct 30 at Isabel Bader Theatre)

Kōtarō Isaka (Bullet Train) – Makes his first-ever North American appearance

André Aciman, Nathan Harris, Serhii Plokhy, Susan Choi, Chris Pavone, Eimear McBride, Cho-Nam Joo among those attending

CELEBRATING CANADIAN VOICES

Giller Prize winners André Alexis, Ian Williams, Michael Redhill, Souvankham Thammavongsa in conversation

Emma Donoghue, Thomas King, Madeleine Thien, Guy Gavriel Kay and Joy Fielding discuss their new books

Festival of Indigenous Stories, including Susan Aglukark & David A. Robertson

NOTABLE EVENTS

Kiran Desai: Love Lost & Found
October 29, 5:30PM, Isabel Bader Theatre

Internationally acclaimed author Kiran Desai makes her only Canadian appearance at the Toronto International Festival of Authors. The winner of the 2006 Man Booker Prize, Desai worked on her highly anticipated new book, The Loneliness of Sona and Sunny for over a decade. Her appearance is expected to be the hottest ticket at the Festival.

Chris Pavone in Conversation with Nita Prose
October 30, 8PM, Isabel Bader Theatre

Tipped as one of the best books of 2025, Chris Pavone’s The Doorman is a laser-sharp satire and literary thriller. Hear Pavone discuss how he crafted this ‘21st century Bonfire of the Vanities’ with fellow bestselling mystery author Nita Prose.

“Chris Pavone has always been good, but this novel is way better than good”
-Stephen King

Fiction Across Worlds: André Alexis & Susan Choi
November 1, 1:30PM, Isabel Bader Theatre

Award-winning authors André Alexis (winner of the Giller Prize for Fifteen Dogs) and Susan Choi (recently shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Flashlight) as they discuss their latest works of fiction, books that grapple with memory, family, and forces beyond characters’ control.

2025 Ivy Award & Conversation with Keynote Speaker Louisa Joyner, Associate Publisher, Faber
October 29, 2:00 PM, Isabel Bader Theatre

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, founder of Kegedonce Press, is named the 2025 Ivy Award Recipient by the International Visitors (IV) Programme, in association with the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA)

About TIFA:

The Toronto International Festival of Authors has been inspiring readers and celebrating books and storytelling for 50 years. The charitable organization presents its flagship literary Festival each fall, while offering year-round programming including the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival, the TIFA Romance Festival, the TIFA Presents series of high-profile author talks, Toronto Lit Up book launches, and the International Visitors Program. Since 1974, TIFA has welcomed thousands of authors from more than 100 countries, including 22 Nobel Laureates and countless award winners. The organization is a proud member of the Canadian Association of Literary Festivals (CALF) and the Global Alliance of Literary Festivals (GaoLF).

TIFA gratefully acknowledges our Season Supporter, the Weston Foundations; our Global Authors Club, for providing additional philanthropic support; the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, the Toronto Arts Council, the Work In Culture Catalyst and Transformation Fund, the Centre for Creativity at Victoria University, and TIFA’s generous donors and supporters who understand that great literature is worth investing in.